Advice Beyond the Obvious

Lean back and settle in for cutting-edge scientific snippets from the trend-setting Dr Karl Kruszelnicki.

In Short Back & Science, Dr Karl combs through some of the greatest scientific conundrums of our age, such as what is killing half the bacteria on Earth every two days and why don't mole rats get cancer? Why would anyone pay $40 million for a cup of tea, and how did a toilet seat help to end the First World War?

In Annabel Crabb’s accidental second career as the host of political cooking show Kitchen Cabinet, she negotiates her way into the homes of Australian politicians, bringing dessert - the internationally recognised culinary code for ‘I come in peace’.

But food is a language that says so much more than ‘Please let me in, Madam Speaker’. To friends and family, food can say everything from ‘I’m sorry you had a bad day’ to ‘Congratulations, you clever thing’. And it means still more when brought to the door.

Ten years after his internationally bestselling The Weather Makers, acclaimed scientist and author Tim Flannery argues that Earth’s climate system is approaching a crisis. Catastrophe is not inevitable, but time is fast running out. In the lead-up to the United Nations Climate Change Summit to be held in Paris in December, Atmosphere of Hope provides both a snapshot of the trouble we are in and an up-to-the-minute analysis of some of the new possibilities for mitigating climate change that are emerging now.

The World of Numbers is basically an avalanche of information about the world we live in. How fast is Usain Bolt and would he beat an ostrich over 100 metres, if you're 18 years old, how old are your taste buds (10 days!), how do bitcoins work, how hot is it at the core of our sun (trust me it's steamy), which Australian city houses the largest gold coin in the world which sport propels it's 'ball' at the fastest speed, what is the most popular colour for an M&M and how far into space can i see with my naked eyes?

'At some point, I gave up trying to play it safe. I stopped trying to control the uncontrollable.'

Jane Caro is known for saying what she thinks across the news and entertainment media. In an era where public figures talk about themselves as brands, and manage every moment accordingly, this is not just refreshing, it's, well, radical.

Move towards making easy lifestyle changes this September by creating a mindful calendar week with healthy tips as well as adding personal goals, welcoming spring and healthy change. By consciously making easy changes daily within the week it will make the transition easier as well as introduce a new level of awareness to the importance of each in relation to your "everyday" living

I read a survey a few years ago mentioning that the average office worker, not the disorganised one, spends six weeks per year looking for things they already have, not new information. ‘Yes, yes you did send me this information, it’s in my inbox (pause) No I remember I filed it into one of my sub sub sub folders (second pause) Now I remember, I printed it at the time, let me look for it (third pause)…. Six weeks per year…